Swimming glove



Aug. 19, 1930. I SBRQLLA 1,773,440

SWIMMING GLOVE Filed Sept 3,. 1929 J Sbfalia INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY."

Patented Aug 19, l930 i p I I.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN SBROLLA, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY SWIMMING GLOVE Application filed September 3, 1929. Serial No. 390,139.

This invention relatesto apparel and more This improved swimming device consists particularly to a glove adapted to be worn of a sheet 1 formed of soft rubber or rubberwhen swimming. izcd fabric of sufiicient thickness to prevent \Vhen swimming many persons fail to keep it from tearing easily but at the same time their fingers and thumbs pressed close tosufficiently thin to cause it tobe pliable and gether thereby leaving spaces between the hm allow the fingers and thumb of a hand to gers and thumbs through which water may which it is applied to be spread as shown in pass. This reduces the speed at which they Figure l orpressed close together. The sheet may travel through the water and in addition conforms to the contour of a hand having the makes swimming more difiicult. Therefore, thumb and fingers spread and has a .Wide 60 one object of the invention is to provide a forward portion along which the thumb and glove which may be applied to a person's fingers extend as shown in Figure 1. The hand and constitute a shield for spaces besheet tapers rearwardly to follow the outline tween the fingers and thumbs. This not only of a persons hand and at its rear end termiprevents water from'passing between the finnates in a neck or reduced extension 2 to fit 6 gers and thumbs but in addition allows the against the wrist; lVings 3 project from fi r and thumbs to be spread apart thereopposite sides of the neck to form a wristby increasing the surface which acts against encircling band and are disposed at a rearthe water when swimming and allows a perward incline so that they will fit properly son to swim easier and faster. about the wrist. In order to allow the ends 70 Another object of the invention is to proof the wings to be secured one in overlapped vide a device of this character consisting of relation to the other there has been provided sheet of rubber or rubberized fabric shaped snap fasteners l and 5 but it will be under to conform to a persons hand when the finstood that buttons and button-holes may be gers and thumb are spread and thereby alsubstituted for, the snap fasteners or other 75 low a person to swim with their fingers and specific form of fastening means employed. thumb spread apart while at the same time \Vhen this swimming glove or appliance allowing the fingers to be disposed against is in use it is to be applied against the palm each other if so desired. of a persons hand with its rear end held in 3 Another object of the invention is to proplace by the side wings or arms 3 engaged g vide improved means for retaining the sheet about the wrist and the forward portion held in proper engagement with a persons hand against the fingers and thumb. In order to and fingers and allow the device to be easily retain the forward portion in engagement applied but prevent it from being liable to with the fingers and thumb there has been accidentally work loose. provided loops or hands 6 which fit about 85 Another object of the invention is to prothe thumb and fingers near the upper or invide a device of this character in which water ner ends thereof and pockets or stalls 7 into cannot collect and cause it to be uncomfortwhich the ends of the thumb and fingers are l h thrust. These bands and pockets are either 40 The invention is illustrated in the accommolded integral with the sheet or firmly ce- 90 panying drawing wherein, mented or otherwise fixed thereto and it is Figure 1 is a view showing the improved to be understood that when the device is apswimming device applied to a person s hand, plied for use the thumb and fingers are first Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken v thrust through the bands 6 and into the pockalong the line 2--2 of Figure 1 with the hand' ets 7 and the wings 3 then s u d b t th 95 omitted, wrist. When so applied the device will be Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along firmly held against a persons hand and a perthe line 33 of Figure 1, and son will be able to freely move the thumb and Figure 4 is a fragmentary View showing fingers towards or away from each other. By the wrist encircling band laid fiat. holding the thumb and fingers close to each 1 other the hand may be moved easily through the water when reaching forwardly and by spreading the thumb and fingers when moving the hand and arm rearwardly the portions of the sheet between the fingers and thumb and first finger WlllCOIlStltlltB Webs. 'lherefore, a person will be able to swim with greaterease and rapidity. The fact that the device consists of a sheet secured against the hand, instead of a glove which fits upon the hand and is provided with webs between the thumb and fingers, reduces its weight and makes it more comfortable to wear and also prevents water from accumulating in it. There will be no danger of the device slipping out of proper engagement with a hand but when the side wings 3 are released it can be very easily removed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A swimming appliance comprising a sheet of dimensions to fit against the hand having the thumb and fingers thereof spread, said sheet being formed of flexible material to permit movement of the thumb and fingers toward and away from each other, the rear portion of the sheet being tapered to fit against a persons wrist and provided with side wings adapted to be secured together about the wrist, bands carried by said sheet and projecting from the rear face thereof to engage about a persons thumb and fingers near their inner ends, and pockets to receive the ends of the thumb and fingers carried in) by the sheet adjacent its forward edge and projecting from the rear face thereof in transversely spaced relation to each other and havinp their rear ends open and disposed in facing relation to the bands.

- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN SBROLLA. [1 5.] 

